La la land

We had a wonderful weekend with Nick and Maddie despite them both being sick, the stifling heat and bumper-to-bumper LA traffic (which Nick adroitly navigated!). Their new apartment is modern and very comfortable. A wall of windows provides incredible views of the city. When you get Nick and Frank together, it’s all about food and they have their favorite must-have “eats” — a Godmother sub, a couple Wurstkuche exotic sausage sandwiches and dessert at the Pie Hole. We hit them all. Nick showed us around USC and his “second home” – the new state-of-the-art Annenberg School of Communications. The weekend also included a scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway to Thousand Oaks to visit our friends, Jim and Connie Olson. Jim was leaving for Spain the next day to begin the 500-mile El Camino Trek – the Way of St. James – a Christian pilgrimage to the city of Santiago de Compostela. Poor Maddie, with whom Nick shared his flu, couldn’t join us but was well enough the next day to cheer on her fantasy football players as we hung out at the LA Brewery. Always hard to leave them, but much easier knowing we will see them over Christmas in New Zealand!

Fantasy football domestic rivalry.

Fred.

Nick’s home for his PhD.

Inside USC’s Annenberg School.

The state-of-the-art newsroom inside Annenberg.

Maddie’s USC School of Cinematic Arts.

An LA institution, the Pantry Cafe, has been open 24/7 since it first opened in 1926.

Frank reminisced with an old California Teamster buddy, Pat Kelly.

Nick navigating the PCH.

Jim and Connie at St. Julie Billiart in Thousand Oaks. Jim lead the major renovation of the church.